Melani Boudreaux, the niece of Lori Vallow Daybell, revealed in a new interview that she believes Vallow Daybell’s children are safe.
Boudreaux spoke with KPHO-TV in Phoenix about the case, which has spawned a number of headlines across the nation.
Vallow Daybell is currently in jail in Madison County, Idaho, on a $1 million bond. She is charged with desertion and nonsupport. Her two children — Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan — went missing back in September.
“I don’t know where my cousins are. Her children. JJ and Tylee,” Boudreaux told KPHO-TV. “I love all of them, and I know she’s doing whatever she can to keep her kids safe. And, I hope that we continue to see that in the future as truth continues to come forward.”
According to the Arizona Republic, Boudreaux’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, may have had “knowledge of the whereabouts of her aunt’s two missing children.”
Melani Boudreaux told KPHO she expects to see her niece and nephew again.
She said, “I do. I absolutely do. I know Lori wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt her kids,” Boudreaux responded. “I’ve seen the pain that she’s gone through and the abuse and betrayal. I’ve seen authorities let her down. I’ve seen court systems let her down.
“I don’t have the answers as to why she does the things she does and why she hasn’t spoken as to where they are, but I can’t judge her because I don’t know what she’s going through. I can only love and support her and hope for everyone to be safe,” she said.
As I wrote about for the Deseret News, court documents said Melani Boudreaux had told her new husband, Ian Pawlowski, that she heard Vallow and Chad Daybell say JJ and Tylee “had been possessed and had become zombies.”
According ABC-15 Arizona’s report on the subject, Pawlowski said: “Melanie had been told by Chad and Lori that her children had been possessed and had become zombies. She shared concerns that she’s been told Brandon needed to die and that may indicate that … Tylee and JJ needed to die as well. She told me she was worried that Al (Alex Cox) may have had to ‘take care’ of the kids. She explained that Al had great faith and never wavered in his trust in the Lord. No task would be too difficult or great for him.”